Note: Wow... I left you guys hanging for so long... I am SO SO sorry! DX I've been so busy that I've neglected this story. Geez... It's 2018 now... Well, what better way to kick off the year than with a new update, huh? 4/14/18 Update: Hi! I've updated this chapter just like I have with chapters 7 through 9, but I also changed its name, just in case you guys are wondering. Its original name was "An Informative Walk". Anyway, you know what doesn't belong to me, so, here's the new chapter!

After school had ended, Cecilia rounded up Melissa, Adrien, and (to her displeasure) Marinette.

"Alright, here's the plan: Marinette and Adrien will distract Mr. Agreste," she said, thoughtfully. In all honesty, Cecilia would much rather have Adrien not be paired up with Marinette on their mission, but she knew that Mr. Agreste might think that something was off if his son wasn't there when his girlfriend was at their home. "Melissa and I will locate the miraculous. Once we're done, I'll escape from Melissa's room and she'll find a way to tell you guys whether we succeeded or not."

"Sounds good," Adrien agreed as a limo pulled up to the sidewalk.

"You'll enter from my room, too, right? I think it's at the front of the mansion, second to last window on the right," Melissa said as they started to leave.

Cecilia nodded. "Got it. I'll see you in a few minutes." The four of them waved to each other as the limo began to drive off with Melissa, Adrien, and Marinette inside.

There was a tap on her shoulder.

The pink-eyed blonde turned around and came face-to-face with a semi-introverted dark-haired boy. "Hey, Cecilia," he greeted with a smile.

She smiled back. "Hi, Sam. What's up?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and cast his eyes to the ground. "Well... um... are you busy today? 'Cuz if you're not, I was just wondering if you'd want to come to the park with me? Just so you could explain what you wanted to explain that day? I mean, you don't have to, and I don't wanna pressure you or anything, but I'mjustcuriousandallthatso..."

Explain? Oh, that's right! I promised him I'd explain the whole superhero thing. "Actually, I've got something to do today... Sorry."

"Ah, it's okay, that's fine! Really, we could just meet up some other time, maybe?" Sam offered.

Cecilia gave a small giggle. This boy really was too kind. "How about we just walk and talk instead?"

Sam grinned, but she didn't see the nervousness in it, "Okay."

They started off down the sidewalk, side-by-side. "So, this whole... superhero thing?" he started after a few moments, talking in a low tone.

"Right. I guess I should start by saying that I'm not exactly a superhero?" Cecilia said. It wasn't a question, but it came out sounding like one.

"You're not? But you seem like you've been doing that kind of thing all your life!"

This rewarded the boy with a pretty laugh like clinking crystals. "How would you know?" she asked in a playfully mocking voice. "You were knocked out in a bubble for nearly the entire time!"

"Au contraire, mon ami, I saw you fighting before I was knocked out and put inside- wait, what did you just say I was in?"

Another giggle. "A bubble."

"I was in a bubble? And I was asleep? Gosh, I must've looked so pathetic..." Sam mumbled.

"If pathetic means adorable, then sure," Cecilia said with a reassuring smile, "Besides, everyone has those moments."

Sam tried to push down the heat rising to his face. She called me adorable! Ack, calm down, Blackwell, keep your cool... you're doing great...

"Heh, thanks," he chuckled. "So if you haven't been saving lives all your life and you're not a superhero, what are you? And where'd you get those powers and stuff?"

Cecilia thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I'm a backup? I mean, if I see someone in trouble, of course I'll help them. I did that all the time back where I used to live, but I've never really done patrolling and other superhero things like that. Besides, all the magic villains have been popping up here in France, and with Chat Noir and Ladybug already here to take care of things, they don't really need me, do they?" She shook her head. "No, you know what? I'm not. I'm not hero, Sam. More of an anti-heroine, to be honest." Cecilia said the last part quietly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last bit."

"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, I the powers from this little magic creature called a kwami," she continued.

He didn't push the subject of what she said, though he was a little curious. Instead, he asked, "A kwami? What are kwamis? Besides magical creatures, of course."

The girl tried to think of what exactly a kwami was, but didn't know if any of her thoughts were correct. "I'm not exactly sure, but I think they're like these magic spirits that are linked to each miraculous, which are enchanted accessories that give the wearer power and make the wearer partners with the kwami. They're small, they fly, look like animals, talk, and they're kind of like a friend that you keep in your pocket. Every kwami is different for each miraculous. Like how Chat Noir's looks like a black cat and Ladybug's looks like a ladybug. They only appear when a miraculous is activated, but not being used. And by that, I mean that they're around when the miraculous is not in a dormant state, but not being used for it's magic."

Sam nodded, processing all this, as well as pondering the way Cecilia's eyes went a bit dark whenever Ladybug was brought up. Was it possible that she didn't like the Red Lady? He wanted to ask, but on the account that the topic would be a touchy one and that he wanted to keep their conversation light, he decided to save it for another time. Again, he replied with something else.

"I see. So, does that mean that you know who Ladybug and Chat Noir are?"

Cecilia gave a small nod as well. "Yes, but their identities aren't my secrets to tell, I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey, that's cool," Sam said, waving his hands, "I totally get that. Um... but could I see your kwami? I'm guessing it must look like a deer, right?"

"Yup! Let's see... Come here." She took the boy by the hand (Sam, no freaking out. Stay calm, stay calm, it's no big deal. She's just holding your hand to lead you somewhere so she can show you her kwami. Quit overreacting!) and brought the two of them into the shadows of an alley between to buildings before revealing the little deer. "Come on out, Deerja! Sam wants to meet you."

The kwami flew out from behind Cecilia's pink headband and stopped at a comfortable viewing distance for Sam to see her properly. The adorable living novelty greeted Cecilia with a smile for a brief second first before turning to Sam. "Hi, Sam!" she said, waving a little paw, "I'm Deerja, the kwami of the Deer Miraculous." The small deer then indicated the delicate, pale-pink necklace around Cecilia's neck with a five-pronged antler charm. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person!"

The boy chuckled at the intriguing creature. "Likewise," he said, "Even though I only heard about you just a few minutes ago." Sam stuck out a finger and Deerja shook it with two of her paws.

A small growling noise was heard and the three of them paused. Deerja hesitated for a moment before asking, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but do you happen to have any fries with you? I can smell potatoes..."

"Oh," Sam laughed. "Yeah, I've got some leftover potato wedges from lunch. Here." He searched through his midnight navy blue shoulder bag before pulling out a small container the held three wedges of potato. He gave one to the hungry kwami.

"Thank you very much!" she said, eating it happily.

Cecilia smiled at them. "I'm glad you two are getting along so well, but I think we'd better get going." Deerja finished up her wedge as Sam put the rest of his leftovers back in his bag. "It's been nice talking to you, Sam."

He smiled back. "It's been nice talking to you, too, Cecilia."

Deerja went back into hiding as the pair started back out onto the sidewalk. "And, um, Sam?" Cecilia began.

"Yeah?"

"I know I've pretty much explained everything, but I'd like to take up your offer for that park trip sometime," she said.

Sam ignored the pounding going on inside his chest. "O-oh, yeah, sure."

"Great!" she said with a sweet smile. "Oh, and I don't think I ever thanked you for that birthday gift you gave me. So, thank you so much! I love it, it's one of the cutest plushies I have. Well, see you later."

"Y-yeah, see you," he replied, waving nervously.

But once Cecilia was out of sight, Sam pumped a fist in the air as he turned around to go home before his basketball practice.

"Good job, Sam! Ya didn't blow it!"